Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church

Church Leadership

Senior Pastor: Pastor Fritz Wiese
Associate Pastor: Miriam Beecher
Minister of Music: David Beecher

About Us

COS enters its 38th year of ministry in 2012 with enthusiasm and gratitude. A new supplemental 33 acres of land at 411 Palmetto with a 4 acre lake for creative ministry. A new senior pastor and new staffing arrangement. A new roof, new media resources, new carpeting and new bathrooms with which to offer our best hospitality. With our 40th anniversary 2 years away and the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation only 5 years away, we offer this brief history of COS:

In the early 1970s the Lutheran Church in America was asked to develop a Lutheran church in the planned community of Peachtree City, Georgia. In June, 1974, a call was issued to Pastor John Weber to serve as mission developer. The name Christ Our Shepherd reflects Christ as the comforting shepherd who reaches out to those hurting and in need – the central mission of this new congregation.

The first worship service was held December 1, 1974, with about 80 persons present at the Glenloch Recreation Center. In February, 1975 the charter was opened for membership with 17 adults and 8 children and Sunday School classes began.

In April, 1975, 3.1 acres of land were purchased at the intersection of GA highway 54 and Peachtree Parkway for $31,000. June 8, 1975, the official organization service was led by Bishop Harvey Huntley at First Presbyterian Church with 97 adults and 62 children joining as members of this new congregation of the Southeastern Synod of the Lutheran Church in America.

In September, 1975, services were moved to a warehouse on Dividend Drive. A call was issued to Rev. John Weber as pastor and he was installed on October 5, 1975.

That fall the congregation approved plans for the first facility, and broke ground. When the building was completed, it was dedicated on June 25, 1978, by Bishop Gerald Troutman.

In 1980, the congregation began having interns from Southern Seminary. From 1980 until 1988 ten interns served this congregation, and many are currently pastors in the Southeast.

By 1984, the congregation had 500 confirmed members with 230 children and average attendance of about 300. Building expansion plans began and Christ Our Shepherd actively supported the new mission congregation in Fayetteville. In 1986, the building fund program raised over $500,000 and the congregation voted to proceed with building expansion. The $1,150,000 addition was completed and dedicated in the spring of 1988.

On July 15, 1989, Rev. Eleanor Russey was installed as our first associate pastor, and Jim Russey became our Director of Music.

In 1991, we added the preschool, raised $10,000 as seed money for a mission congregation in Coweta County, and Pastor Weber celebrated his 20th anniversary of ordination.

In 1993, Pastor Weber took a sabbatical to study small group formation and in 1994, the small group ministry began. In 1993 Linda Lake was hired as full time Youth Director and we began the LOGOS youth program which currently has about 150 youth in grades 6 through 12 participating each week. In 1993, handbells were added to the music program.

In 1997, we held a capital funds campaign, with $1.1 million pledged over a three year period. Construction began in early 1998 and was completed in December that year. The new addition (Fellowship Hall and Education Wing) was dedicated by Bishop Ron Warren in early 1999.

In 1997, Pastor Russey accepted a call as pastor of Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Rincon, Georgia. In July, 1998, Pastor Miriam Beecher came as Associate Pastor, and her husband, David, was hired as Director of Music.

After 34 years as Senior Pastor, Pastor John Weber retired in 2008. After the ELCA Churchwide actions on sexuality in 2009, COS affirmed its commitment as a proud participant of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In a process of prayer, discernment, pain, and conviction, however, over a fourth of the congregation decided to pursue their faith journey at other congregations. The majority turned to the future.

A call was issued to Rev Fritz Wiese of Epiphany Lutheran in Dayton, Ohio as Senior Pastor and he was installed on September 12, 2010.

In December, 2011, after several years of searching COS purchased 33.1 acres of land with a 4 acre lake at 411 Palmetto Road, Tyrone, GA to further expand its ministry to its members and the community. We follow Jesus into the future!

Meeting Times

Photos

Reviews

Share Your Review

Events/Activities